hadriel | 001 | Joint Video

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001 | Joint Video

[ This video opens with an up close and personal view of a dark brown eye. ]

How do we know if it’s even working? I could be speaking to no one right now.

[ The eye narrows, and then the camera wheels back to show a large, dark-haired man next to a smaller, paler, and much prettier blond. The first looks, at the very least, invested in what he’s doing. The second looks like he’d rather be examining his nails. ]

My name is Damianos of Akielos. This – [ Gesturing to the blond beside him. ] – is Laurent of Vere.

These…devices show people speaking to us. Assuming that this is how you all talk to each other, we wanted to introduce ourselves. We have questions, if you can answer.

[ With a show of reluctance, Laurent draws himself up to answer the camera. ] The typical answers you give to newcomers will suffice. How are we here, why are we here, how do we leave. So on and so forth. [ He waves his hand in dismissal. ] If you need a truer list, I can continue. I am sure you've heard all of it before.

[ With a moment of thought, he adds. ] As well as where I can get in-depth information. If anyone has consolidated any information I may read or any other materials I can look through.

[ With that, he falls back to a more relaxed and bored pose. That's all he's got. He's in no mood to give more. Or even thank anyone for the effort. He leaves the rest to Damen. His requests have little to do with books. ]

Beyond that, I want to know the state of your defence. [ He’s seen monsters in caves and general mayhem. It seems unlikely there’d be no organisation at all. ] To whom do I speak about rotation of guards, weapons and drills? If there is someone in charge, direct me to them. If not, the Captain of the guard will do.

[ ooc: Damen is red and Laurent is blue. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

They call themselves gods. That does not make them divine.

[Maketh's face doesn't visibly change at the question, though her tone goes a bit sharper.]

I do. What I mean to say is, the gods do not waste a potential meal. The monsters here do not produce enough emotion to feed on. So if one of us should die, Hope will bring us back in his temple. It is an unpleasant process.

[ Damen’s look is somewhat flat. If they call themselves gods, he’ll call them gods. He doesn’t think it matters; they’re not ones he’ll be worshipping, either way. ]

Whether they are, or not, changes little, I think. All I meant was that they are present. The gods of my people are not so.

[ But his interest is minimal, either way. If the gods were all powerful in any world, their acolytes would have saved Damen’s father. He’s unimpressed by gods. Maketh’s description of these ones does not improve his opinion. ]

So they feed on our hopes, fears, and so on. How many are they? Is this…resurrection, guaranteed, or are there times when it has failed?

[Maketh disagrees - names are important - but not in the mood to argue the point at the moment. She nods.]

They influence things to their liking, yes. Thus far, there is Hope, Fear, Rage, and Delight. They are working on resurrecting others. I am not certain of the final total.

The resurrection has not failed yet. However, given that it apparently takes them a significant amount of power, I would imagine eventually there will be a cost.

[ Damen considers this. It costs them power, which presumably they only receive by feeding on the people here. But a new crop of people has just arrived. His eyes narrow. Something about this situation doesn't add up. ]

If we are nothing but food to them, why bring us back at all? It's clear enough they can bring others in, that others have arrived even now. What need have they to care if we die?

I believe with the impending arrival of yet more gods, the current food source will not suffice. And it's possible that the Door is not entirely under their control, or the process of opening it might take more power than the resurrection.

[ Well, that's interesting. Damen leans back, his eyes darkening a little. She thinks they're here because of the gods, but they are not the ones bringing them here.

Very interesting, if it's true. ]

Where is this Door? We arrived in the arena, but I saw no way into it beyond the gate that led to the city.

That is unclear. The gods have kept it hidden. Perhaps they fear it might be taken from them.

Perhaps they do.

[ And perhaps it could be, if that’s the case. Damen looks at Maketh with fresh interest. ]

You seem a capable woman. Do you wield a sword, or prefer some other way?

[Maketh sizes him up with a critical eye. He's taking this better than some, and clearly has some military training. That makes him useful.] I used a blaster. There are none here. I make do with a blade.

[ Damen has no idea what a blaster might be, but all right. She uses a blade; that's good enough. ]

I favour the sword. I'll use it to defend this place, but I will be blunt: lone soldiers patrolling at their leisure is not enough. You speak like a Captain, so tell me. Do you have that experience?

I appreciate bluntness. [She nods just once.] My duties prior to coming here involved commanding troops. How much experience do you have with tactics?

[ More bluntness is what she gets, then. Pride is far from foreign for Damen, but this doesn't come from that. ]

My first command was at seventeen. I've learned tactics and battle strategy at the King's table and refined it on the field.

In that, I'm undefeated. Though, to speak clearly, I generally have more men. Those who have spoken up would not number a garrison, much less an army ready to secure this place.

[Maketh gives him a single nod. He's not boasting. Just stating facts. This too she appreciates.]

I was an officer of the Imperial Court. There are others with training and expertise, but not many. Even if all the people here were combat trained and properly armed, there would not make an army. We make do with what we have. Gorilla tactics have served us in the past, but I am making preparations for every type of warfare I know.

I will send you the maps I have drawn up, as well as my notes on strategic positions and some weapons I am working on designing. I believe Henry Percy would be an asset to you as well. He comes from a world with technology similar to yours. I trust his judgement in military matters.

[It's clear from her tone that Maketh does not trust easily.]

You aid in this would be welcome. My world uses vastly different weapons.

From what I've heard, the armoury stocks weapons that I know. I've been told about guns. They're new to me.

[ Though, they interest him. He's telling her in case she knows of them, in case that's what she means by saying her world deals in different weapons. ]

I will try to speak with your Henry Percy. It's my hope those of us with the means can work together here. These are not my people, but so long as I'm here, I'll defend them just the same.

That is correct. Guns are more powerful than what you're used to, but our stock of ammunition is limited. [Maketh frowns. Rage occasionally grants them gifts, but so far has declined to give them any blasters or proper shield generators.] I would offer to teach you, but the ones in the armory are outdated in my world. I'm still trying to master them myself.

[A frustrating process, if ever there were.]

That's good to hear. These are good people. They don't deserve what has been done to them.

What I'm used to worked well enough against the creatures in the caves.

[ In Damen's experience, a well-applied broadsword works on most things living. He has yet to encounter the kind of things that would be immune to it. ]

But I'm unafraid to work with something new. If it's at our disposal, I'd like to use it. What ammunition do guns require?

The gods occasionally bring in monsters as well as people. Be wary of that. Some of them have proven difficult to kill with blades.

[The wendigos, for instance, but Maketh does not feel like discussing that right now.]

They're called bullets. [She disappears from the frame for a moment, then returns holding a clip taken from her rifle.] They look like this.

[ Damen's expression is skeptical, to say the least. He can't imagine how something so small could do enough damage to replace a sword.

Still. He'll bear it in mind. Maybe there's something he's missing. ]

It seems warfare has changed a great deal. I want to be ready for what this place brings.

I'm grateful for your help, Officer. What is your name?

It is appreciated. [Maketh's face twists for a moment, several emotions all at once, but she hides it quickly.] Maketh Tua. You needn't bother with rank. I no longer have one.

[ Interesting. He'd used it only because she gave no other title, but this tells him something more.

He nods, simply. ]

Maketh. I think rank matters little in a place without a leader, whether you hold one or not.

Perhaps one day, you'll hold one again.

[Her expression softens momentarily.]

Perhaps. We shall see.

We shall.

[ Soon, Damen hopes. He has not truly been in a position to take a holiday. ]

Thank you for your help. I'll study what you sent. [ A slight smile, self-deprecating. ] Once I discover how to find it.

Ah -- this must be very strange to you. [She keeps forgetting that not every world has this technology.] If you look at your phone, you should see a square in the corner. Press that, and you should be able to see the notes I've sent.

[ He does, and an entirely new set of pictures floods the device. It's a lot information, and all of it tiny. But it's clear. ]

I see them. I'll have to get used to this.

But thank you. It's what I needed, especially the maps. This will come in very useful.

You're welcome. And if you find any information that you think would be useful, please let me know.

001 | Joint Video

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